Rule of Law

The Netherlands promotes the development of the international legal order, both inside and outside of the EU. This demands an active attitude and policy regarding the rule of law, as part of the fundamental values of the EU.

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EU values

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The EU is a community of values: a legal community which, according to Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union, has its foundation in shared values like the rule of law, democracy and fundamental rights. Rule of law and democracy within the Union should be respected and strengthened, as it is essential for a well-functioning Union. Mutual trust between member states and their respective legal orders is crucial.

What we do

The Netherlands has expressed its concerns about judicial reforms in Poland both bilaterally as well as within the framework of the EU and supports activities in Poland to increase public awareness on the importance of rule of law and to stimulate contacts between relevant professionals in both countries to share best practices. 

Initiatives

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To this end, the embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Poland supports various initiatives and projects, for example from the Court Watch Foundation. One of their projects focused on judicial independence and comparing the Polish and Dutch justice systems and experiences. Another initiative the embassy supports is the Constitutional Week organized by the Hołda Association. During this week lawyers all over Poland inform secondary school students on the importance of the Constitutional State.

See also

Human rights initiatives supported by the Dutch embassy